The History of the Corsage

Prom season is here, which means that if you haven’t already ordered a corsage with romantic flowers, you should get started soon! Not only will you have a lovely bouquet of spring flowers to wear with your dress, but your scent can be enhanced as well. But have you ever wondered where the idea of corsages came from? Believe it or not, they weren’t always worn on the wrist like they usually are today. Here’s a brief history of these mini bouquets, as well as a few tips and tricks for choosing the perfect one for your prom.

History

According to GardenGuides.com, the bodice of a woman’s dress used to be called a corsage. Some of the first corsages as we know them today were worn on this part of a women’s clothing, and the French referred to the blossoms as a “bouquet de corsage.” That’s where the modern term for these small bouquets of flowers came from.

People have been wearing flowers for many centuries. In fact, the source reports that the ancient Greeks used to wear flowers at wedding ceremonies because they believed that the scent would ward off evil spirits. The bride and the other women at the event would all carry bouquets or attach flowers to their clothing.

PollenFloralDesign.com notes that by the 1900s, corsages moved up from the bodice of a woman’s dress toward the shoulder. They were usually pinned on upside down, with the bow at the top, and were much larger than most corsages we see today.

The tradition of giving a girl a corsage at prom originated in the 20th century, according to RoanokeValleyWoman.com. Escorts would pick up their dates and present her parents with a gift, like flowers. Then he would take a blossom from the arrangement and pin it on her dress. Now that dress styles are changing and strapless and spaghetti straps are more prominent, corsages are now usually worn on the wrist.

Tips and Tricks

When choosing your corsage, it’s important to take into account the color of your dress. Matching the fabric to the bloom would be perfect, but neutral colors like white, peach or cream can go with a variety of hues, reports RoanokeValleyWoman.com.

Roses are one of the most popular choices for corsages, but many other flowers work, too. Depending on your budget, you could go with orchids, calla lilies, chrysanthemums, carnations or lilies. It’s all up to you!